BUILDING EXCITEMENT
Castle in Spain
CASINO GRAN VIA Madrid , Spain
MANY CONTEMPORARY OFFICE buildings look like monuments to conformity . In ages past , however , especially in the world ’ s great cities , architects built offices that were downright palatial .
Take the Academy of Commercial and Industrial Unions on Madrid ’ s Gran Via . Built in 1924 , it has all the hallmarks of the neoclassical style : towering Greco-Roman columns , a dramatic domed roof , a marble grand staircase , and according to a history of the structure , “ a succession of arches reminiscent of the Monterrey Palace in Salamanca .”
By the turn of the new millennium , the landmark building — by then an employment office — had seen better days . Thanks to a painstaking renovation , it ’ s enjoying new life as the Casino Gran Via . The resort is operated by the Comar Group , which owns 36 casinos and gaming halls around the world , including 10 in Spain .
It took a lot of work . “ The building was run down , but we fell in love with it ,” says Aleksey Belinskiy , studio leader at the Amsterdam office of Steelman Partners , architects for the project . “ The attention to detail and the amount of craftsmanship that went into these buildings are just incredible .”
That includes a center atrium that soars up to a stained glass skylight . The skylight solved a problem for the architects , says Belinskiy : “ Urban casinos are challenging to build , because they often end up on two to three levels . It ’ s hard to move people up and down , so the visual connection between various levels is critical .”
The skylight , by Parisian glassmaker Maumejean and original to the building , instantly draws the eye upward . And it ’ s especially striking at night . “ We backlit it and frontlit it with a special LED mesh that creates almost an interactive video effect ,” says Belinskiy . “ It ’ s spectacular .”
Throughout the renovation , many elements of the 90-yearold building had to be brought up to code or otherwise restored . “ The existing concrete slab would not support the required load , and most of the floors had to be restructured . Because of all the systems that go inside the ceiling cavities , it was pretty challenging to keep the ceilings high and also maintain some of the design elements we wanted . Much of the decorative trim and molding had to be replaced . It was really hands-on site administration .”
The work has paid off . The former municipal office building , set along one of Europe ’ s most famous thoroughfares , has become a world-class entertainment center “ in the style of the grand palaces of Russia and Paris ,” says Belinskiy .
The street level features a café , reception area , game room with 65 slot machines , and a cocktail bar and lounge . The mezzanine includes a baccarat room with an Asian motif ; gaming tables with American roulette , blackjack and poker ; a traditional Basque restaurant operated by Chef Jesús Santos ; and a gourmet Champagnería .
On the third floor is the opulent ballroom , now a gaming floor lit by eight-foot chandeliers .
“ It ’ s one of the most beautiful spaces in Europe ,” says Belinskiy . “ When we first walked into that room , I realized we had this absolute jewel in the middle of Gran Via , and nobody knew about it . We were excited to see it restored , not just for business reasons but from an architectural point of view . It felt right that we had a chance to give this building a new , re-energized look .”
Comar Group Director General Javier García says Casino Gran Via , which opened in December 2013 , was built “ with the aim
of contributing to the revitalization of leisure and tourism in Madrid . The iconic building , the team of excellent professionals , the facilities and the exclusive design make the Casino Gran Via a leisure experience of reference in Europe .”
The old office building “ was a great find ,” says Belinskiy . “ And it really is breathtaking .” — MARJORIE PRESTON
OWNER : Comar Group PROJECT DESIGN : Steelman Partners Europe AREA : 14,800 square feet INVESTMENT : $ 18.8 million
10 CASINO DESIGN 2014